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Might be interesting, there were two cases I
know of friendly fire on British aircraft in Korea, though
neither had the tragic result on the recent one:
July 28 1950: A Seafire 47 (carrier version of
Spitfire, this model with distinctive counterrotating propellors) of 800 Sq.
from HMS Triumph was shot down by B-29's of the 22nd BG after a routine CAP
interception to identify them. The pilot suffered burns on bailout but was
rescued.
April 10, 1951: a pair of Sea Furies (radial engine
fighters) of
817 Sq from HMS Theseus on an armed recon
mission were jumped by a pair of Corsairs. One was hit in the right wing fuel
tank and set afire, but the fire went out and it made it back to the carrier
with 21 holes. The other pilot said he was able to outturn the Corsairs and
avoid being hit. British accounts say USMC Corsairs from VMF-312 claimed 2
La-9's in this engagement. In Marine records the incident is almost
completely self censored, there are only vague references in higher level
reports to an unfotunate incident with RN a/c that day to be avoided in future
with better id training. VMF-312 was not the guilty unit but it's not clear
which one was.
Joe
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